14 FEBRUARY 2020 – Ahead of the 2020 AIA Singapore Premier League (SPL) season, we take a look at each of the nine clubs that are participating in the 25^th season of the domestic top flight. Today’s focus is on Albirex Niigata (S)!

 

Seasons: 17
Nickname: The White Swans
Stadium: Jurong East Stadium
Highest finish: 1^st (2016, 2017, 2018)
2019 finish: 4^th
Chairman: Daisuke Korenaga
Head coach: Keiji Shigetomi (2^nd season)
Captain: Kazuki Hashioka
Singaporean players: Hyrulnizam Juma’at*, Zamani Zamri, Gareth Low, Ong Yu En, Iman Hakim, Aizil Yazid, Daniel Goh, Noor Akid Nordin

 

Albirex’s fourth-placed finish last season came on the back of three consecutive title triumphs and the Japanese side will be aiming to put up a stronger title challenge this year. Only two first-team regulars – Hiroyoshi Kamata and Zamani Zamri – have been retained as part of the club’s annual revamp of the squad. Defender Kazuki Hashioka, elder brother of Urawa Reds and Japan international Daiki Hashioka, is perhaps the biggest name to arrive, while promising local pair Gareth Low and Daniel Goh will aim to make their mark.

Squad(as at time of publication)
Goalkeepers: Kei Okawa, Hyrulnizam Juma’at, Aizil Yazid^
Defenders: Kotaro Takeda, Rio Sakuma, Kazuki Hashioka, Yasuhiro Hanada, Toshihiko Masuda, Sato Shoma, Mahiro Takahashi, Yohei Osada, Ren Ishihara
Midfielders: Gareth Low^, Kenta Kurishima, Hiroyoshi Kamata, Ryoya Taniguchi, Iman Hakim^, Ong Yu En^, Noor Akid Nordin^
Forwards: Reo Nishiguchi, Tomoyuki Doi, Daniel Goh^, Ryuya Mitsuzuka, Zamani Zamri^, Ryosuke Nagasawa

 

*Albirex are permitted to sign only one non Under-23 Singaporean player; in this case, it is Hyrulnizam Juma’at.
^Their squad must consist of at least six U-23 Singaporean players.

 

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Check out the other previews: Young Lions | Balestier Khalsa | Tampines Rovers | Brunei DPMM | Hougang United | Lion City Sailors | Geylang International
All images courtesy of Albirex Niigata (S)